Shimano, SRAM and E-13 groupset comments

[Stefan Cremer]

I've done a desktop comparison on the Shimano vs SRAM vs E-13 groupsets, but cannot paste the tables in the format I like on this website, so have done a pdf document which includes the entire review.

 

I'll give my conclusion here, but please do read the entire pdf.

 

CONCLUSION

On the balance of all considerations SRAM (XX1 or XO1 shifters and derailleur) is my preferred group set for the following main reasons:

1.     SRAM range (420%) is superior to that of the Shimano cassette (11-42) (disclaimer the 11-46 Shimano cassette has 418% range but on the low gear end which is not what is required for my normal riding and training around Pta;

2.     No 36T chainring with a suboptimal chain line is required for the 11-46T Shimano cassette (Cannondale specific issue) compared to 34T which I have used for the last 3 years on my SRAM gruppo, even if this Shimano cassette and Garbaruk chainring option is used the low gear has a suboptimal ratio;

3.     SRAM shift is dynamite, the feel of the gear shift is in my opinion superior to the feel of Shimano;

4.     Lighter weight of the SRAM cassettes means that lower specification cassettes can be used compared to Shimano without having a weight penalty compared to the Shimano cassettes, this also reduces the running cost of the drivetrain on the SRAM, but still not to the low running costs of Shimano though;

5.     E13 cassette costs the same as the SRAM cassette, sure it has superior range, but the jump in 4 of the gears is around 20% which in my opinion is not;

6.     E13 requires the XD body upgrade (if you start off with a Shimano bike), which is also quite costly;

7.     SRAM cassette locking pin for maintenance on the chain and wheel removal is operable with ease and cannot be compared to how the Shimano works, in short it is worth its weight in gold;

8.     The Shimano cassette high gear differences are not favourable in opinion, I prefer the 10-12-14 compared to 11-13-15.

 

I'd like to hear fellow hubbers comments on the subject - no brand bashing please.

 

Update (17 Jan 2017):

Test rode the Scalpel 3 on the weekend and must admit that I was very disappointed with the Shimano drivetrain. I have been riding on SRAM 11 speed for the last 3-and-a-bit years and to compare the Shimano with the SRAM in this regard I have to say that I prefer the SRAM drivetrain in every aspect (barring the cost of maintenance) from shifter motion to the clutch, the range, the feel of the shift right down to the performance of the shift under load. Note that I am comparing XO1 vs XTR derraileur.

Not bashing Shimano in any way - I was looking forward to riding with it, but was unfortunately left disappointed.

Shimano 11-42 vs SRAM vs E-13.pdf

[Fisan]

Background: Running Shimano XT 1x11, before that 1x10.

 

Ivm very glad I did the upgrade - I'm, all for single chainrings. One of the major advantages of going XT was the relatively cheap costs. (I'm excluding the SRAM GX range from my POV).

 

Although I am very happy with the setup, I do feel like Shimano's setup is catering more for the 2x11 range than 1x specific.

 

As you have highlighted, to get the same ratios with XT (without using an XD driver) you need a massive cassette, massive chainring and longer chain. The weight do add up. Though, some magazine mentioned bigger chainrings to be better for FS setups(?). Not sure what they were going on about...

 

My next drivetrain updgrade will probably be an XD driver and cassette - keeping the XT RD.

[Stefan Cremer]

Koei, agreed with your comment that Shimano cassette seems to be more geared for the 2x kind of setup; they do have the 11-46 cassette, but that's probably a bit of a pig with the huge (24%) jump to the lowest gear.

[s14phoenix]

I run a sram 11sp cassette with shimano shifter, derailleur and crank - top end without losing bottom end crawling. this is on a 650B with a 36T front. on a 29er I would probably use a 34T (roll-out dependant)

[Stefan Cremer]

S14phoenix: How does the Shimano derailleur work on the SRAM cassette? 

[the nerd]

S14phoenix: How does the Shimano derailleur work on the SRAM cassette?

Exactly the same way it does with a shimano cassette?

[s14phoenix]

Exactly the same way it does with a shimano cassette?

 

yeah...

 

With the right adjustment it works just fine. I have a XTR derailleur and shifter on a X01 cassette. Some have used a Wolftooth Goatlink to optimize the shifting but I really cannot see why since it already works so well.

[Wannabe]

S14phoenix: How does the Shimano derailleur work on the SRAM cassette? 

 

Shimano / Sram (and the cheaper and better option, Sunrace) cassettes are 100% interchangeable and work flawlessly with each other.

[s14phoenix]

being 11sp you obviously need to use the XD driver (11sp freehub) to fit the cassette to the wheel but other than that not much different.

[Wannabe]

being 11sp you obviously need to use the XD driver (11sp freehub) to fit the cassette to the wheel but other than that not much different.

 

Only if you want to use the 11spd 10-42 cassette. 11-42 cassettes does not need the XD driver. These cassettes are also a lot cheaper.

[Stefan Cremer]

Only if you want to use the 11spd 10-42 cassette. 11-42 cassettes does not need the XD driver. These cassettes are also a lot cheaper.

Unfortunately the range is not really all that great - at one of the ends, either high or low gear you end up losing out...

[Wannabe]

Unfortunately the range is not really all that great - at one of the ends, either high or low gear you end up losing out...

 

I have done over 3000 km with my 1 x 11 (11-42/32) setup already, including the J2C. Never found any big gaps or problems. 

But then again, I'm no race snake.....

[Stefan Cremer]

I have done over 3000 km with my 1 x 11 (11-42/32) setup already, including the J2C. Never found any big gaps or problems. 

But then again, I'm no race snake.....

 

You're the better for it when it comes to cassette replacement...

[Wannabe]

You're the better for it when it comes to cassette replacement...

 

Chain and Cassette (11-42 or 11-46) only R1519.00 from Rapide.   

 

http://www.rapide.co.za/product/sunrace-wide-range-11-speed-cassette-11-speed-chain/

[BaGearA]

Can some one give me the run down on sram's higharchy (spelling)

 

I got it as 

 

XX1 eagle 

XO1 eagle 

XX1

XO1

X1

GX

NX

 

Am I wrong ?

[BaGearA]

I've done a desktop comparison on the Shimano vs SRAM vs E-13 groupsets, but cannot paste the tables in the format I like on this website, so have done a pdf document which includes the entire review.

 

I'll give my conclusion here, but please do read the entire pdf.

 

CONCLUSION

On the balance of all considerations SRAM (XX1 or XO1 shifters and derailleur) is my preferred group set for the following main reasons:

1.     SRAM range (420%) is superior to that of the Shimano cassette (11-42) (disclaimer the 11-46 Shimano cassette has 418% range but on the low gear end which is not what is required for my normal riding and training around Pta;

2.     No 36T chainring with a suboptimal chain line is required for the 11-46T Shimano cassette (Cannondale specific issue) compared to 34T which I have used for the last 3 years on my SRAM gruppo, even if this Shimano cassette and Garbaruk chainring option is used the low gear has a suboptimal ratio;

3.     SRAM shift is dynamite, the feel of the gear shift is in my opinion superior to the feel of Shimano;

4.     Lighter weight of the SRAM cassettes means that lower specification cassettes can be used compared to Shimano without having a weight penalty compared to the Shimano cassettes, this also reduces the running cost of the drivetrain on the SRAM, but still not to the low running costs of Shimano though;

5.     E13 cassette costs the same as the SRAM cassette, sure it has superior range, but the jump in 4 of the gears is around 20% which in my opinion is not;

6.     E13 requires the XD body upgrade (if you start off with a Shimano bike), which is also quite costly;

7.     SRAM cassette locking pin for maintenance on the chain and wheel removal is operable with ease and cannot be compared to how the Shimano works, in short it is worth its weight in gold;

8.     The Shimano cassette high gear differences are not favourable in opinion, I prefer the 10-12-14 compared to 11-13-15.

 

I'd like to hear fellow hubbers comments on the subject - no brand bashing please.

 

Update (17 Jan 2017):

Test rode the Scalpel 3 on the weekend and must admit that I was very disappointed with the Shimano drivetrain. I have been riding on SRAM 11 speed for the last 3-and-a-bit years and to compare the Shimano with the SRAM in this regard I have to say that I prefer the SRAM drivetrain in every aspect (barring the cost of maintenance) from shifter motion to the clutch, the range, the feel of the shift right down to the performance of the shift under load. Note that I am comparing XO1 vs XTR derraileur.

Not bashing Shimano in any way - I was looking forward to riding with it, but was unfortunately left disappointed.

BTW excellent write